Strip-guide for sewing-machines



G. S. GATCHELL. STRIP, GUIDE FOR SEWING MACHINES.

Patented July 27, 1920.,

INVENTOR ATTORNEY APPLICATION FILED APR. 6. I917- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE S. GATCHELL, 0F ROSELLE PARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE SINGER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

STRIP-GUIDE FOR SEWING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed Apri1 6, 1917. Serial No. 160,087.

To all whom it may concern.

' Be it known that I, GEORGE S. GATOHELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Roselle Park, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Strip- .Guides for Sewing-hfachines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to sewing machines particularly of the cylinder-bed type and has for anobject to provide a machine of the class described with guiding means adaptedito apply a stay-strip tothe under side of the work.

The particular purpose for which this machine is adapted is to flatten outan initially stitched seam formed in leather goods, such as shoe-uppers; and to apply a stay-strip of canvas material to the underside of the seam to cover the rib formed by the projecting edgeportions of material. The machine is, however, capable of being used for various other purposesv wherein a narrow strip of material is to be stitched or applied to the under surface of a body-fabric.

In its preferred embodiment the invention comprises a cylinder-bed sewing machine formed with the usual hollow worksupporting arm whose free end is preferably fitted with a removable cylindrical end-cap having a circular end-wall whose exposed face is channeleddiametrically to form an upwardly extending strip-guiding passageway adapted to receive a stay-strip leading upwardly from a source ofsupply disposed below the machine and to deliver said staystrip to the stitching plane. The end-wall of the cylindrical cap-member carries adjustable guides which serve to confine the stay-strip within the strip-guiding channel. In the present instance the work-arm carries a throat-plate whose forward end-portion is extended in front of the end-wall of said cap-member and is provided with a tapeguiding slot which is disposed substantially in register with the strip-guiding channel above referred to. The throat-plate carries a pair of adjustable guides which serve to control the position of the stay-strip relatively to the line of seam-formation and to adapt the machine to handle various widths of tape. j V

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view of the essential feature f a cylincluding the feed-dog 2 with which cooperates the'presser-foot 3 formed with the guiding rib 41 and apertured at 5 to receive the spaced reciprocating needles 6 carried by the reciprocating needle-bar 7 which is journaled within the head 8 and actuated by any suitable mechanism.

The cylindrical wall of the hollow workarm is formed at one side with a longitudi nally extending dove-tailed groove 9 within which is slid'ably fitted the rearwardly projecting shank 9 of the hollow cylindrical end-cap 9 which forms a housing for the usual loop-taker (not shown) and is closed at its free end by means of the substantially circular end-wall 10. To guide a stay-strip from a source of supply below the work-arm to the stitching plane,the end-wall 10 is, in the present instance, channeled vertically and diametrically at 11. The width of this channel is suflicient to accommodate a tape of the desired maximum width. To retain the tape in the channel 11, the end-wall 10 may be channeled horizontally at 12, 12 to reshoulder 15 and a tape-confining lip 16. The

guides 13 are slotted at 17 and secured in adjusted position in their respective guideways 12 bymeans of the screws 18, 18.

The work-arm 1 supports a throat-plate 19 which is preferably formed with a flat raised portion 20 defining the stitching plane and apertured as usual to receive the feed-dog 2. The throat plate 19 is secured to the arm 1 at its rearward end by means of the usual screws, one of which is shown at 21, and is preferably elongated so as to project forwardly in advance of the end-wall 10. Registering with the guideway 11 is the rectangular tape-guiding aperture 22 formed in the throat-plate 19, as shown in Fig. 2. The throat-plate may carry adjustable means for guiding the tape and defining the lateral position thereof relatively to the stitching point, In the present instance,

Patented July 2 7, 1920.

said adjustable means maycomprise a pair. of bent wires 23 having tape-supporting end-portions 24- and tape-guiding side-portions 25. The guiding devices 23 are adapt ed for lateral adjustment to properly control various widths of stay'strip material and, in the present instance, are secured in side of the IIlitlll-bOC y of material being stitched. The strip material may be supplied from a suitable reel disposed below the machine and entirely out of the way. Being fed upwardly from below the tape does not obstruct the operators view of the work nor does it interfere in any way with the necessary operations involved in the handling of the work while presenting it to the stitch-forming mechanism for application of the stay-strip;

It is often desirable to remove the endcap of the machine and gain access to the loop-taker housed therein .withoui; severing the tape or disturbing its position above the throat-plate. To facilitate this operation it will be noted that the free ends of the tape confining lips 16 are spaced apart to. permit the ready removal of the tape from-the guiding passageway 11. by passing it through the space between said lips prior .to the removal of the end-cap effected by sliding it axially off the free end of the work-arm. The end wall 10 maybe cut away at 10 or otherwise spaced from the under face of the throat-plate to provide,

the

ing a stay-strip upwardly across the free end of said work-arm, and. adjustable means adjacent the stitching plane for guiding sa d stay-strip to the stitch forming mechanism. I a i V 2. in a cylinder-bed sewing-machine,the combination with a work-supporting; arm,

stitch forming mechanism, work feeding mechanism and a presser-foot, of means sustained below the stitchingplane and in advance of the presser-foot for; guiding a stay-strip upwardly across and within the periphery of the "free end of the'work-arm and delivering it to said stitch-forming and feeding mechanism in advance of said resser-foot.

3. A sewing machine comprising, in comend-wall being cut away to form an upwardly extendlng strip-guldmg channel,.

stitchforming and work-- feeding mechanisms incorporated in said frame,,guide means between said channel and stitchforming mechanism. and meansxfor retaining-the strip in said channel.

5. A sewing machine comprising, in combination, a frame having a hollow worksupporting arm including an end-wall, stay.-

strip guiding means sustained by said end wall,-a throat-plate sustained by said arm' and projecting forwardly of said encbwall and formed with'a strip-guiding aperture, and stitch-forming and: work-feeding mechanisms incorporated'in said frame.

6. A sewing machine comprising in combination, a frame having a hollow worksupporting arm including an endwall,

stay-strip guiding means sustained by said end-wall; a throat-plate. sustained: by said arm and projecting forwardly of said-endwalland formedwith a strip guiding aperture, and adjustable guiding means carried by said throat-plate for controlling the pos'ition of-the strip relatively to the'line of seam-formation. V V

7.. Nsew ng machine hav1ng,-incon1bination, a frame comprising a'hollow' worksupporting arm including an 'end-cap,said end-cap being formed with upwardly extending" strip-guiding channel, adjustable strip-guides carried by said -.en'd-cap and adapted-to confine the stay-strip; within said channel, and stitch-forming-and feedingmechanisms incorporated in said frame.

8 A sewing machinehaving, in combination, a. frame comprising a hollow workarm, a removable end-cap sustainedat the free end of said work-arm: and formed with an upwardly extending strip-guiding passage'way, and means for confiningthestrip within said passageway, said means comprising spaced; elements wherebycthe strip may be readily removed-fremsaidg guideway by lateral displacement through said space. Y

9. A sewing machine having, in combination, a frame comprising a hollow work-arm, a throat-plate supported thereon and having a vertical strip-guiding aperture, a removable end cap on said work-arm, said cap having a portion cut away below and in rear of said aperture to provide clearance for said strip when the cap is removed.

10. A sewing machine comprising, in combination, a hollow work-supporting arm including an end wall, a throat-plate on said arm and overhanging said end wall, a stripguiding aperture in the overhanging portion, and adjustable strip-guiding means above said aperture.

11. A sewing machine comprising, in combination, a hollow work-supporting arm including an end wall, stay-strip guiding means on said end wall, a throat-plate on said arm and overhanging said end wall, a strip-guiding aperture in the overhanging portion of the throat-plate, and guiding means above said aperture.

12. In a sewing machine, the combination of a hollow cylindrical 'Work-supporting arm, stitch-forming mechanism, a presserfoot, means for guiding a stay-strip across the end of said arm, and means extending from the arm in advance of the presser-foot for guiding the strip into stitching relation to a seam to be covered.

13. In a sewing machine, the combination of a hollow cylindrical work-supporting arm, stitch-forming mechanism, a presserfoot, and means for guiding a stay-strip into stitching relation to a seam to be covered, said means comprising a guide on the end of the work-supporting arm and a second guide disposed on top of the arm between said first guide and the presser-foot.

14:. In a sewing machine, the combination of a work-supporting arm, stitch-forming mechanism, and means for guiding a staystrip into stitching relation to a seam to be covered, said means comprising a passage way extending across the end of said arm and a pair of adjustable guides adjacent the discharge end of said passage way.

15. In a sewing machine, the combination of a work-supporting arm, stitch-forming mechanism, means for guiding a stay-strip across the end of said arm, and adjustable means for centering the strip with relation to the stitch-forming mechanism.

16. In a sewing machine, the combination of a work-supporting arm, stitch-forming mechanism, means in advance of the latter for spreading a seam to be covered, and ad justable means for centering and guiding a stay-strip into stitching relation to the seam.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

GEORGE S. GATCHELL. 

